In 1998, Rick Smith Sr.(1956-2004)—a Fort Worth native and seasoned music executive—saw something the rest of the industry missed. Many of the most iconic country artists were between record deals, yet they were still selling out venues and delivering unforgettable performances. Rick recognized an opportunity to preserve those moments and give fans something lasting: a definitive live recording that captured an artist’s greatest hits in one powerful set.

He brought the idea to Billy Minick at Billy Bob’s Texas, the world’s largest honky tonk. Together, they outfitted the venue with professional recording gear, launching what would become the Live at Billy Bob’s Texas® series. The first session—Pat Green on December 4, 1998—was followed by a historic New Year’s Eve performance from Merle Haggard, marking the official birth of one of the most respected live catalogs in country music history.

Over the following decades, Smith Music Group released more than 50 live albums, featuring legendary artists such as Willie Nelson, Gary Stewart, John Conlee, Eddy Raven, Asleep at the Wheel, and Red Dirt stars like Cross Canadian Ragweed, Stoney LaRue, Randy Rogers Band, Kevin Fowler, and Texas rock legends The Toadies.

After Rick Sr.’s passing in 2004, the company remained in the family and continued to evolve. Smith Music Group expanded into festival production, curating and promoting major events like Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic, Cross Canadian Ragweed’s Red Dirt Roundup, and the Stockyards Stampede—drawing well over 100,000 fans to the Fort Worth Stockyards and throughout Texas.

As the industry shifted digital by 2014, Smith Music invested in scalable infrastructure—leveraging AudioSalad for distribution and Curve Royalty Systems for real-time royalty analytics. This enabled independent artists to reach over 100 DSPs including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Pandora, TikTok, and more—all while maintaining ownership and transparency.

Alongside that evolution, Smith Entertainment emerged as a powerhouse in independent distribution. With a roster of over 1,000 labels, it has helped launch, scale, and sustain some of the most respected names in Texas and Americana music.

Past and present clients of Smith Entertainment include:

Cody Johnson, Whiskey Myers, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Maren Morris, Josh Abbott Band, Mike Ryan, Aaron Watson, Reckless Kelly, Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, Parker McCollum, Micky & the Motorcars, Tanner Usrey, Kevin Fowler, Roger Creager—and hundreds more.

To further support creators, Rick Smith Publishing began handling copyright registration, licensing, sync placements, metadata management, and global royalty collection. The publishing arm ensures independent songwriters retain control, clarity, and proper compensation for their work.